The attorney of Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s “heartbroken” family says they “can’t understand” why D4vd — the young pop star accused of brutally murdering and dismembering the teen in spring 2025 — would allegedly have taken “a chainsaw to a beautiful girl.”
Celeste was just 14 when Los Angeles authorities believe the 21-year-old “Romantic Homicide” singer, real name David Anthony Burke, killed her in April 2025. Her dismembered remains were found in the back of his impounded Tesla in September.
Burke was arrested and charged this April with first degree murder with special circumstances, for which he faces life without the possibility of parole. The possibility of the death penalty has not yet been taken off the table.
He was also at the time charged for “continuous sexual acts, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and mutilating a human remains of a body,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Patrick Steinfeld told TMZ outside the courthouse Wednesday that Celeste’s “disheartened and broken” family left D4vd’s preliminary hearing early that day to preserve their strength for Thursday’s hearing, during which the medical examiner will take the stand.
The family “can’t understand why D4vd would take a chainsaw to their beautiful girl,” Steinfeld told the outlet.
Celeste’s parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, on Tuesday were shown horrifying images of their daughter’s dismembered limbs, according to TMZ and Rolling Stone.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo will decide at the end of the hearing, which will likely span four days, whether there’s enough evidence to take the case to trial, per KTLA.
The special circumstances with which Burke was charged in April include “lying in wait, committing this crime for financial gain, or murdering a witness in an investigation,” as well as the special allegation of having used “a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument,” to fatally stab Celeste.